Brian Viglione

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Brian Viglione

---

Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Brian Viglione
Born = birth date and age|1979|5|16
Origin = Greenville, New Hampshire, United States
Died =
Genre = Alternative rock, punk cabaret, heavy metal, dark cabaret
Occupation = Performer, Musician
Instrument = Drums, percussion, bass guitar, guitar, vocals
Years_active =
Associated_acts = The Dresden Dolls
The World/Inferno Friendship Society
Nine Inch Nails
[http://www.myspace.com/humanwinemusic HUMANWINE]
[http://www.myspace.com/thegillaharontrio The Gill Aharon Trio]
Jesse Malin
Faun Fables Franz Nicolay & Major General
Reverend Glasseye / [http://www.myspace.com/adamglasseyeandtheinsectfable The Insect Fable]
Steve Smith

Label =

Brian Viglione (born May 16, 1979 in Greenville, New Hampshire) is the drummer for The Dresden Dolls [cite episode
title = Band Tries to Make It Big Without Going Broke
url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6885355
series = All Things Considered
credits = interview by [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100196 Chris Arnold]
network = National Public Radio
airdate = 2007-01-17 The [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6885355 web page] has audio and a transcript of the interview, and links to several of their songs.] and New York City's swing-punk orchestra, The World/Inferno Friendship Society. Known for his energetic and expressive drumming style, Viglione has often aligned himself with groups who incorporate eclectic musical styles and theatrical elements. A multi-instrumentalist, Brian also plays guitar, bass, percussion, and sings in several of his collaborations, as well as having done producing work. He starred in the American Repertory Theater's 2007 production of " [http://www.amprep.org/onion/ The Onion Cellar] " and in 2008 performing in " [http://www.arktype.org/arktours.html Addicted To Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre's 20th Century] " with The WORLD/INFERNO Friendship Society. Brian also played drums on the Nine Inch Nails album "Ghosts I-IV" in 2008 on a drum kit he built on site out of scrap metal and found objects. In addition to his various recording and touring work, he also gives drumming workshops based around developing personal creativity on the instrument and has lectured at Harvard University, [http://www.bacademy.org/ The Boston Day and Evening Academy] , as well as many other schools around the northeastern US.

Career

Brian Viglione was introduced to the drums by his father on Christmas Day at age five with his interest quickly deepening at age nine when rock music became a primary focus and passion. A pivotal moment occurred in 1990 when Brian’s father brought him to see The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine and Brian witnessed his first up-close exposure to the drummer who would become his principal inspiration on the instrument. "I spent every possible hour jamming with my friends up in our attic from the time I was in the fourth grade through when I graduated high school. You could hardly tear us all away from playing!" At sixteen years old, Brian began playing gigs in clubs with bands around New England before moving from New Hampshire to Boston in 1999. There, he played with several Boston punk bands on both drums and bass guitar. "I knew it was 'now or never' when I moved from my small town to pursue my dream. Both of my parents understood how dedicated I was to making it come true and I was very lucky to have their encouragement through all of the craziness and uncertainty of those times." Viglione played bass for a year in a and was exposed to music that played a large and influential role in his playing. "I was listening to a lot of Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Black Flag, Swans, Miles Davis, Diamanda Galas, The Gun Club, Einsturzende Neubauten, Charles Mingus, and John Coltrane records. Very cathartic music that taught me a lot about the beauty of how to balance using space and aggression in music."

The Dresden Dolls

At a Halloween party in October 2000, Brian first met Amanda Palmer, and together they formed The Dresden Dolls after their first time playing together. They are a Boston based keyboard/drum duo, now famous around the globe.

In addition to playing drums, Viglione also plays guitar and bass on several Dresden Dolls songs including the first single, "Sing", from their 2006 album "Yes, Virginia" and sings back-up vocals, most notably on their version of "Pierre" from the "" DVD. His range allows him to cover backing vocals on stage for songs such as "Delilah".

After signing with Roadrunner Records in early 2004, the duo re-released their self-titled debut "The Dresden Dolls" to worldwide acclaim and recently made their "Billboard" chart debut with the equally applauded follow-up "Yes, Virginia...". In addition, the duo’s live audiences continue to grow exponentially around the planet as The Dresden Dolls have completed sold-out tours on four continents, supported Nine Inch Nails, and performed at prestigious world festivals including Reading, Bonnaroo, Leeds, Coachella, Fuji Rock, Roskilde, Glastonbury, and Download. Locally, they have won numerous awards ranging from multiple Boston Music Awards to topping the Boston Phoenix/FNX Best Music Poll. In 2006, the band recorded their second live DVD chronicling their two sold out shows at [http://www.amazon.com/Dresden-Dolls-Live-Roundhouse-London/dp/B000R7G9JC The Roundhouse in London] . The concert DVD captures the band with their uniquely creative fan base, many of whom traveled from all over the US, Australia, and Europe to attend in concert at the peak of the band's most active period.

In January 2007, Viglione starred in the American Repertory Theatre’s production of "The Onion Cellar", in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The show was co-written by The Dresden Dolls, cast, and director, Marcus Stern, loosely based around a chapter from Gunter Grass's book, "The Tin Drum". The band's music was often used in unconventional ways to depict the drama and humor in a "call and response" method with the actors on stage, and Viglione was given a featured drum solo following one actor's moving scene recalling childhood abuse. The entire 40-show run sold out and the production has already garnered rave reviews. [cite web
url = http://amrep.org/onion/
title = THE ONION CELLAR
accessdaymonth = 3 Dec
accessyear = 2007
work = Web site of the American Repertory Theatre
publisher = American Repertory Theatre
quote = Inside the small confines of the mysterious club The Onion Cellar, the internationally renowned rock duo The Dresden Dolls provides nightly entertainment while a series of stories unfold around them. As singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione play their songs, the Onion Cellar becomes a space where rock and roll meets cabaret with humor and humanity. "World Premiere."] [cite web
url = http://www.thephoenix.com/OnTheDownload/PermaLink.aspx?guid=3634f0e3-a628-4230-90fc-d39925783c24
title = Dresden Dolls take the ART
author = On The Download editors
work = On The Download
coauthors = photo by Kelly Davidson
accessdaymonth = 21 Aug
accessyear = 2006
date = 2005-04-20
publisher = The Phoenix Media/Communications Group
quote = The Dresden Dolls are taking the world by storm. This punk cabaret duo from Boston are incredible musicians whose smart, personal, intricate songs and mesmerizing live performance have earned them a cult following. Now don’t tell anyone, but there’s a rumor that the Dolls may be appearing at a bizarre underground club somewhere in Cambridge – an Onion Cellar, where the audience peel onions for emotional release, where you never quite know who’s sitting next to you, where your life could change forever. Somebody forgot to mention that he's fucking awesome!]

In June 2007, as part of the Dresden Dolls, he toured with the True Colors Tour 2007 [ [http://www.truecolorstour.com/ True Colors Tour web site] ] , including his debut at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall,cite news
first=Nate
last=Chinen
coauthors=photos by Hiroyuki Ito
title=Power to the People (and Some Pop Too)
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/20/arts/music/20true.html?8dpc
work=The New York Times
publisher=The New York Times Company
pages=B1,B5
date=2007-06-20
accessdaymonth = 9 Nov
accessyear = 2007 ] and his first review in the "New York Times".

olo career

Brian played drums on "Fighting Naked", the debut album from his childhood friend Holly Brewer's band, [http://www.myspace.com/humanwinemusic HUMANWINE] released through Warner Music Group's Cordless Recordings. Through March and April 2007 he went on a US national tour to support this release.

More recently, he performed drums for the new Nine Inch Nails album Ghosts I-IV. "Collaborating with Trent on "Ghosts" was a great experience and he really allowed it to be a truly creative atmosphere, in having me build a drum kit and allowing me to improvise my drum parts." Brian gives drum lessons and collaborates with many other Boston musicians including the [http://www.myspace.com/thegillaharontrio Gill Aharon Trio] , Neovoxer Ensemble, and Reverend Glasseye.

Brian has also given a series of drum workshops at schools around New England with the purpose of "inspiring the player to create, equipping students with the skills and confidence to make music that reflects their own unique voice and experience. I wanted to use this forum to stress the importance of individuality and in drummiing, not just speedy and flashy chops. To show kids the importance cultivating their own style and play from the heart."

He has also worked and toured with Jules Shear, Jesse Malin, [http://www.stevesmithmusic.com/ Steve Smith] , Helicopter Helicopter, The Insect Fable, Star* Matters, the Nanette Perrotte Jazz Combo, Franz Nicolay and Major General, and [http://www.myspace.com/emilynbrodsky Emilyn Brodsky] . "Emilyn and I have been friends for a long time and when she asked me to produce and play on her album of ukulele songs I was thrilled and, surprisingly, wound up playing marimba on it as well."

Brian is currently the touring drummer for Brooklyn, New York's The WORLD/INFERNO Friendship Society, for a 2008 tour of Europe and the US, and will be recording their new album in 2009 with tours to follow.

Personal life

Brian is an active supporter of the LGBT community (he has been cross-dressing since he was twelve) and was invited to contribute a story to The Matthew Shepard Foundation's youth outreach website which can be read at [http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Voices_Brian_Viglione Matthew's Place] , to urge young people to reach out to each other, maintain their integrity, and speak out against discrimination.

He spent much of his time up until the age of ten at [http://www.ponyfarm.com/ Pony Farm] in Temple, New Hampshire, a highly acclaimed riding camp where his mother, Peg Viglione, was one of the founders and camp counselor for many years.

Brian is a [http://www.yamaha.com/Artists/ArtistDetail/0,,CNTID%25253D557405%252526CTID%25253D551076%252526CNTYP%25253DARTIST,00.html Yamaha Drums] , [http://www.zildjian.com/EN-US/artists/artistDetail.ad2?artistID=2906&genreID=7,9 Zildjian Cymbals] , and [http://www.vicfirth.com/artists/viglione.html Vic Firth Drum Sticks] endorsee.

Discography

As part of 'The Dresden Dolls'

* "The Dresden Dolls" (2002)
* "A Is for Accident" (2003)
* "The Dresden Dolls" (2003)
* "The Dresden Dolls" (reissue) (2004)
* "Yes, Virginia..." (2006)
* "No, Virginia..." (2008)
* (live DVD) (2005)
* "Live at The Roundhouse - London" (live DVD) (2007)

Collaborations

*Nine Inch Nails - (Brian appears on tracks 19 & 22) (2008)
* [http://www.myspace.com/emilynbrodsky Emilyn Brodsky] - Greatest Tits (2008)
*Franz Nicolay & Major General - Forthcoming studio album (2008)
* [http://www.myspace.com/julesshear Jules Shear] - More (2008)
*Steve Smith on the song "Late Nights, Street Fights" from the album "This Town" (2008)
*The Dresden Dolls & Franz Nicolay on the song "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen" from the album "All Aboard: A Tribute To Johnny Cash" (2008)
* [http://www.myspace.com/adamglasseyeandtheinsectfable The Insect Fable] - Forthcoming studio album (2008)
* [http://www.myspace.com/thekisstriedtosmackme The Kiss Tried To Smack Me] - Forthcoming studio album (2008)
*Jesse Malin - "Love It To Life" (2007)
* [http://www.humanwine.org/ HUMANWINE] - "Fighting Naked" (2007)

ee also

*List of Dark cabaret artists

References

External links

*Brian Viglione [http://www.dresdendolls.com/bio/bio_brian.htm biography] on The Dresden Dolls web site
*"Harvard Independent"'s [http://www.harvardindependent.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=9051 Interview with Brian Viglione of The Dresden Dolls]
*John Launius' [http://www.uber.com/media/view_theater.inc?media_type=audio&entity_media_id=243619226_795&is_user=1 Interview with Brian Viglione of The Dresden Dolls]
* [http://www.sepiachord.com/bvint.htm Interview with Brian Viglione on Sepiachord.com]